Justin Rose holds first-round lead at Masters for fifth time

England's Justin Rose shot a 7-under-par 65 with his lone bogey on the final hole to hold the lead through the first round of the Masters on Thursday in Augusta, Ga.

Rose, who began the round with three straight birdies, holds a three-shot advantage. He matched his best round at Augusta National Golf Club and broke a tie with Jack Nicklaus for the most 18-hole leads or co-leads in Masters history (five).

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, benefitting from a couple of long putts, is tied for second with Canada's Corey Conners and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg after posting 68s.

England's Tyrrell Hatton was in the lead until shooting 1 over for the last six holes and finishing at 69, where he is tied with Bryson DeChambeau. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reached 4 under until double-bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes left him with an even-par 72.

Scheffler, the world's No. 1 golfer who has won two of the past three Masters, was at 3 under through eight holes, aided by a 62-foot putt on the par-3 fourth hole. He had all pars the rest of the way except for a birdie on the par-3 16th -- sinking a 40-foot putt -- to complete a bogey-free round.

Conners recorded birdies on three of the last four holes. Aberg played the last seven holes in 4 under.

Harris English, England's Aaron Rai, Australia's Jason Day and Akshay Bhatia are at 2 under. Rai cruised to 4 under through eight holes before giving strokes back with three consecutive bogeys (Nos. 11-13). When Rai completed his round, Rose had yet to make the turn.

Fred Couples, in his 40th Masters, turned in a 1-under 71 with an eagle, a birdie and two bogeys. His eagle on No. 14 came with a 191-yard shot from the fairway, marking the second time he found the cup from off the green. The 1992 champion rolled in a birdie from the second tier of fringe on the first hole.

Collin Morikawa, buoyed by an eagle putt on No. 13, looked like a contender until bogeys on three of the last four holes. He finished with 72.

The day began with ceremonial tee shots from past champions Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

--Field Level Media